Improvement in watch-movement boxes



H. J. WESTON. Wafwh Movement-Box.

No. 213,365. Patented Mar. 18, 1879.

" Q Witnesses: Inventor:

N. PETERS, EMOT LITHOGRAPHEE WASHINGTON D C UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

H. JAMES WESTON, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATCH-MOVEMENT BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2] 3365, dated March 18, 1879; application filed December 2, 1878.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, H. JAMES WESTON, of Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Watch-Movement Boxes, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to the small boxes in which the individual movements, without cases, are packed for shipment.

Watch movements have heretofore been packed for shipment by putting a small cup or half-box over the top plate and works, its edge fitting to the seating formed on the pillar-plate, wrapping the movement thus protected in soft paper, and inclosing the whole in a tin or pasteboard box. The dial and hands have thus been protected only by the paper wrapper, which has, of course, been crushed down tightly upon them, making it necessary to trig the balancethat is, put a piece of paper or other substance under it, to prevent its running while in transit. This method of packing is objectionable for the following reasons:

First, because the trig or stopper put under the balance is liable to slip out, or it may be forgotten by the traveling salesman in the hurry of packing, and, the movement being set in motion, twists or breaks the hands, which are caught fast and held by the paper wrapper.

Second, the winding-square or center staff, projecting up through the dial, wears a hole through the paper and rubs on the surface of the box-cover, grinding the tin to an impalpable powder, which soils and disfigures the dial. This metallic dust, when it becomes attached to the dial, is extremely difficult of removal.

Third, the time required to pack up a lot of movements is so great that traveling salesmen frequently lose a train and a days time, which might be saved if a more simple and rapid form or manner of packing were adopted. To avoid this loss they sometimes pack up their movements in such haste that the trigs are overlooked or not properly adjusted, and at the next stoppingqilace-broken hands, soiled dials, and other injuries to the movements are found to have occurred.

The object of my invention is to overcome these evils, and to provide a watch-movement box, for use .in transportation and storage, which shall fully protect all parts of the movement from injury, and in which the movement may be rapidly packed, with no danger of any precaution necessary to the safety of the movement being omitted.

The invention consists of a watch-movemen t box, in which an elastic chuck or holder is secured in such a manner that the movement may be quickly and securely inserted and quickly withdrawn, and in which it may be carried without danger to any of its parts.

My invention consists, further, in combination, with a spring chuck or holder contained in a watch-movement box, of two or more elastic retaining-hooks, to keep the movement in the said holder; also,in combination, with a watchmovement box containing a spring holder and chuck and two or more elastic retaining-hooks, of inclined surfaces on the inner or under sides of said hooks, where they bear on the movement, by which the said movement is drawn snugly down to its seat in the said holder or chuck, and held there securely.

The ,original drawings accompanying this specification are on an enlarged scale of two to one, and they illustrate a Watch-movement box which embodies my invention.

Figure 1 is a top view of the box and con tained spring chuck or holder, the cover of the box being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the axis of the box on the line 00 i m, with the cover in its place.

A is the body or lower part of the box; 13, the cover, and O the main body of the spring chuck or holder. D is a spring-strap, riveted at a b to the main body 0 of the holder, and having spring retaining-hooks f 9 formed upon it. I prefer to make the main body 0 of the chuck or holder by spinning or drawing abrass shell of the proper diameter and depth, and piercing out the bottom, so as to leave the radial feet 0 c c and the radial springs d d d. This shell, thus pierced, is secured to the lower part, A, of the box by the tongues or rivets e e e.

The movement is inserted by slipping one edge of the pillar-plate and dial under the spring retaining-hook f, and, having drawn back the spring retaining-hook g sufficiently far to allow the movement to be seated on the edge h of the shell 0, the hook g is released, and the movement is thus securely fastened in its seat. By reversing this operation the movement is as readily withdrawn.

The under surfaces of the retaining-hooks f g are inclined, as shown, so that as they spring in toward the center they draw the movement down snugly to its seat It on the edge of the shell 0 and hold it there by an elastic pressure, which keeps it from falling out, and at the same time protects the edge of the dial from injury.

The radial springs d ll (1 are so proportioned with reference to the weight of the movement that while they yield readily to any jar or shock, and thus prevent the breaking of pivots or other injury to the movement, yet they are stiff enough to prevent the movement, or the chuck in which it is held, from vibrating far enough to strike the top, bottom, or sides of the box A B.

I consider the particular form of spring chuck or holder above described the best, though many modifications of this form, as

well as many other forms of spring holders or chucks which would answer the purpose, would readily suggest themselves to those who are skilled in the art of working sheet and other metals.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In combination with a watehmovement box. A B, a spring holder or chuck, U D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the watch-movement box A B and spring holder or chuck G D, the sprilng retaining-hooks f g, substantially as set fort 1.

3. In combination with the watch-movement box A B, spring holder or chuck (J D, and spring retaining-hooksf g, the inclined or beveled inner or lower faces of the said hooks, substantially as and for the purpose described.

H. JAMES WESTON.

Witnesses U. P. CoRLIss, Gno. HUNTER. 

